(Inputs PTI)
Lucknow: AAP leader Somnath Bharti was on Wednesday evening assaulted allegedly by BJP workers at the Assi ghat in Varanasi. The attack took place when he went there to participate in an election-related programme of a news channel.
On the other hand, an AAP campaign vehicle was attacked by alleged Congress supporters in Amethi. Whie AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal is contesting Lok Sabha election against BJP’s prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi in Varanasi, senior party leader Kumar Vishwas has challenged Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.
According to an AAP volunteer, Somnath Bharti went to Assi ghat for an election-related programme arranged by a news channel where BJP supporters took objections to the statements made by him. “Although AAP volunteers tried to pacify BJP workers, they assaulted Bharti who suffered minor injuries. They also used abusive language. Two AAP volunteers were also hurt in the melee,” claimed AAP’s Varanasi coordinator Ramanand Rai. Later, Bharti, who was a law minister in Kejriwal-led AAP government in Delhi, lodged a complaint at the Bhelupur police station.
Bharti said he was “shaken” by the attack. “Modi has started his bloody game even before he has filed his nomination. One who is a follower of violent politics has shown a trailer even before nomination.
How will the movie be if he comes to power? He will unleash bloodshed for which he is well known,” Bharti told reporters.
“Modi believes in blood politices. He can go to any extent in his pursuit to become PM,” Bharti tweeted.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that although he does not have any information about the attack on Bharti, the party does not approve of any kind of violence.
“Campaigning should be peaceful. The party does not approve any kind of violence,” Prasad said.
Meanwhile, three unidentified persons attacked AAP’s campaign vehicle at Shahmau village in Tiloi, Amethi, on Wednesday evening. The driver and his assistance were beaten up and window panes of the vehicle were broken. According to Saurabh Singh, AAP volunteer, three men stopped the vehicle and asked driver not to campaign. When the driver refused, he was attacked. Driver’s assistance was also beaten up when he intervened. The three men fled the scene in a four-wheeler after the assault. However, the driver noted the registration number of the vehicle. Later, AAP volunteers lodged an FIR at the Mohanganj police station. This is the fifth incident of attack on AAP workers in Amethi since January when Vishwas started campaigning in the constituency.
